Dhaka: Bangladesh on Thursday sought to put a lid
on the controversy sparked by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh`s
recent remarks about the country, saying "there is no
misunderstanding now and such mistakes do happen."

"Such type of mistakes do happen. There is no scope for
any misunderstanding now. We are looking forward to Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh`s visit to Bangladesh," Foreign
Minister Dipu Moni told a group of Indian journalists here.

Her comments came when she was asked about Singh`s
controversial "off-the-record" remarks that 25 percent people
of Bangladesh were anti-India. Dr Singh`s remarks, made during an
interaction with editors in Delhi last week, were put on the
official transcript but were later deleted.

In this context, Moni recalled that Bangladesh Foreign
Ministry had also committed a similar mistake by putting
something on its official website and edited it out after
two-three days.

Dr Singh`s remarks had drawn sharp reactions from political
parties in Bangladesh.

India had then swung into a damage-control mode
announcing the date of Singh`s September 6-7 visit to
Bangladesh. The Prime Minister also telephoned his Bangladeshi
counterpart Sheikh Hasina, telling her that India accorded the
highest importance to relations with this country.

Earlier, visiting External Affairs Minister SM Krishna,
responding to a question on Dr Singh`s remarks during a joint
press interaction with Moni, said a clarification was issued
by the Indian government and the Prime Minister had conveyed
his "tremendous affection and admiration for the people of
Bangladesh."

Krishna said that during his 20-minute talks with Hasina,
he conveyed to her Singh`s commitment to forge strong
partnership with Bangladesh and she said the people of
Bangladesh are looking forward to the Indian Prime Minister`s
visit.